Hall of Fame Candidate Thread: Enrique Gomez

[RonCo]

Here's the place to talk about the career of:

Enrique "Pep" Gomez

Pitcher

Active Career: 2022-2038 (17 seasons)
242-133, 3.26 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.24 FIP, 88.7 WAR
Landis Winner: 2036, 2037
Steve Nebraska Award: 2026, 2028, 2036
8-Time All-Star

Hall of Fame Metrics: (average HoF)
JAWS: 67.7 (70)
Black Ink: 37 (33)
Gray Ink: 177 (160)
HOF Standards: 54 (50)
HOF Monitor: 189 (127)
# Enrique Gomez was an elite pitcher who won the Nebraska three times. Of perhaps equal interest is that he was 2nd in the voting _four_ other times. He broke in with the Mexico City franchise back when they were the Omaha Barnstormers, and was moved to Madison in mid-career, setting of the Great Fred Holmes Wailing About Getting Him Back procession what may now never end.

Like most elite pitchers, Gomez dominated the plate as a young man, leading the league in ERA three of his first five years. Like most, he faded a touch as he hit his 30s. But unlike most, Gomez had a resurgence in Rockvills, leading the league in ERA at 34 and 36 years old, and winning his third Nebraska while finally leading his team to the promised land two seasons in a row.

If there was a more feared pitcher in this modern era, you'd be hard pressed to find him.

[Ted]

It's too bad Madison and Mexico City (Omaha) aren't direct rivals anymore. Last season's abysmal Wolves campaign and subsequent (like related) retirement guaranteed him finishing behind longtime rival Ricardo Diaz by 1 win and 0.2 WAR. Also, it was bad enough for him to lose the slight ERA lead he had gained back to Diaz.

Hi Fred. Couldn't let him go without one last dig.

In all seriousness, what a great pitcher. Probably one the great underrated players of all time.

[aaronweiner]

In all seriousness, what a great pitcher. Probably one the great underrated players of all time.

Not by me.

Thanks, Pep.

[Ted]

In all seriousness, what a great pitcher. Probably one the great underrated players of all time.

Not by me.

Thanks, Pep.

Maybe I'm wrong here. I just don't get the impression that people consider him one of the best two pitchers of his generation. In reality, there is no difference between him and Diaz in terms of effectiveness. Diaz has the incredible K numbers and at one point in his career was downright unhittable, but Pep's ability to limit the long ball and eliminate the free past is the stuff of legends.

More importantly for the Hall, both postponed their decline phases by a substantial margin over the typical norm. With more realistic injury modelling, these two may be the last we see of the 85-90 WAR pitcher.

[usnspecialist]

Here is the stat breakdown of Enrique Gomez compared to all starting pitchers on the ballot this year (both individually and against the total mean). Players are sorted by total JAWS score.The mean listed does NOT include anyone on the ballot, just guys who have actually been elected to the HOF (and are not named Steve Nebraska).

[RonCo]

That list says Eduardo Lopez needs to be in.

Just sayin'...